Flex-A-Lite 5200cfm Fan

[Cooker]

I'm still trying to figure out how many CFM's the stock fan and the Horton fan move. Does anybody know?

Flex-A-Lite makes a 5200cfm fan that will supposedly fit on a late model Dodge. I haven't got the price on the fan yet, but I wold have to think it will be less than the Horton.

5200cfm is a lot of air, it seems like that would be adequate for our trucks, as I imagine that is about the same amount of air the stock fan moves.

Comments?

Thanks for the input,
Ryan

 

[Archive]

Is this Flex A Lite fan a replacement or an electric motor driven fan?

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2001 RAM H. O. 6Sp 2500 SLT 4x4 Quad Cab, 4Wheel Disc, 4. 10 Limited Slip, Fog Lights, Muffler removed, Silence Ring Gone,K&N RE-0880.
THIS IS NOT A HOBBY. THIS IS AN ADDICTION,OOOH YAA!!

 

[Cooker]

Here is a link to the fan. http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/fulltruck.htm

It is a full replacemnt electric fan.

IMO the only time this may not be adequate (if ever, but I have yet to find stock CFM's) is towing a heavy load through the mountains is the heat of the desert summer.

 

[illflem]

I find this hard to believe,but have heard from several sources,including a Cummins NW mechanic and here a few times, that when our factory fan engages it pulls 20 HP. I think you would be hard pressed to find an electric fan that strong.

 

[Cooker]

Illflem,
it is correct that at higher RPM's the factory fan at full engagement will pull 20 - 22 horsepower. At lower RPM's the number is less. There was a thread here sometime ago where someone did dyno runs with and without the fan.

I'm not completley sold on this just yet, but maybe sometime this summer I'd consider putting one of these on. If it doesn't work, I can always sell it to someone with a gasser and hopefully not lose too much money.

I just with there was an answer to the CFM's of the stock fan, and then we'd all know for sure if there is an inexpensive solution to the Horton.

 

[LaserBob]

I looked into the Flex-a-lite fan a few months ago. I tried the no fan trick, which worked when the weather was cool. I e-mailed the Flex-a-lite company with the question about our application and their reply was that they had no specific setup for us now. They said that one would be available in late 2001. I am waiting. I think that would be the best system if they can move enough air when you are working the engine. (Maybe not if your name is Joe Donnelly or several others. )

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95 2500 auto reg cab TST # 12 (a friend had this one extra)for now. Wastegate gets No signal. 136K,Just installed DTT VB & Convertor,(2/22/01)WOW! Bob Berends

 

[Alan Reagan]

I can't answer your question on the CFM but will offer a little warning. I had an aftermarket fan and I believe it was the flexalite. One of the blades apparently flexed too much and tore into the radiator. That was on a Phord gasser. The OEM fans are built heavy and strong for a reason. Just be careful.

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2001 HO 6 spd 2500, 4. 10 LSD, Towing Package, Electric Brakes, SPA EGT/Boost Gauges, Fog Lights, Real Backup Lights, Molded Running Boards

 

[Cooker]

To add little more information to my original post.

The universal fit model for our trucks is #260. Summit sells this fan for $380 and Jegs is around ~$350.

 

[Alan Reagan]

Sorry, Cooker. The fan I had break was not electric but a High CFM, low mass fan. It created less drag on the engine and felt like an additional 20 HP because the engine was working less. My apologies.

 

[John]

..... actually, I have read in several issues of the TDR that the OE fan can draw as much as 25 HP at 3200 RPM. I'm not sure I believe that... for one thing, it's assuming the OE fan is in lockup mode. I can't remember ONE time where my fan has been locked up past the first several minutes of actual operation.

CFM rating of the Horton? I don't know, but I do know this... when Andy Perreault showed me his Horton for the first time I was blown away. #ad
#ad
Just kidding. Actually, it moves more air than ANY other fan I've seen mounted on a vehicle!

 

[jsimpson]

when the shaft that supports the fan went south on my 89, I sawed it off and installed two Perma-Cool open metal frame 14" fans from Summit. $200 is MUCH cheaper than replacing factory unit. They hardly ever have to come on and they do the job quite well.

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http://coffeewithJesus. homestead.com/web1.html 89 1-ton, Amsoil System 3000 5-30,K&N, cleaned-up exhaust with Dynomax straight-thru, rebuilt injector pump, thermostatically controlled twin 14" Permacool electric fans, intercooler, modified 518 OD transmission, Gear vendors OD controler, Reese Titan 2. 5" receiver, R-134 refrigernt, louvered front fenders, 93 aftermarket smoothie grille, new Dupont Chromacolor black, black-and-red rubber rubstrip, black headlights, powdercoated bumpers; 78 35'Avion, 93 Lance 900 slide in with generator and power jacks. To see my truck, Click on: <A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1169022&a=10097213

Jesus" TARGET=_blank>http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1169022&a=10097213

Jesus</A> saves!

[This message has been edited by jsimpson (edited 03-14-2001). ]

 

[Deezal Man]

Here's my take on the subject...

I can believe the factory fan sucks 20-25HP at max RPM's. By the same token, does it have a certain % of additional CFM's that go unused? I would think so. I don't imagine DC or anyone for that matter building a fan that is at the very edge of cooling its motor. Granted, we do have guys who tow 100K lbs around in Death Valley #ad
And in this case, I believe most or all of the fans produced CFM's are being used.

On the other hand, how much of the fans produced CFMs are used for actual cooling up here in the northern regions? What about guys who don't tow?

Further, a Ram that lives on the highway doesn't have the same cooling requirements as one that lives from light to light.

Therefore its my opinion that we don't have a universal answer. It seems to me that much more real world testing needs to be done by guys around the US. . before we have a good idea of what is required.

In my case, I need to hear an experience from someone who lives in the same climate as me... with the same driving and towing habits.

Basing my decision off of someone who tows heavy in the south... may not yield the best results for me.

Naturally, OMO.

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98. 5' 24v 2500 Auto/3. 54 4x4 SB QC 285-75-16's on Alcoa's. Everything but leather. PIAA 1200's, AMSOIL dual filter relocation system, Smittybuilt Stainless Steel Nerfs, Rhino Liner(Junk), K&N air filter(For Sale)15 year AMSOIL dealer. Time permitting, Soon to include Ultra-lite Pyro,0-50lbs boost, Trans temp in the pillar. Rancho 9000's with in cab adjustment.

 

[illflem]

If it's any indication,I still have my fan off from the winter,60°-70°for the past week and I have yet to hit over 190°,did have to take the winter front off though when it got up to 55°.
Mostly highway but some stop and go town driving.

 

[drawson]

I am still also running w/o a fan and have also taken my weather front off. I have towed a back hoe in 65 deg without getting to 190 deg. The only place where I think a fan will be needed is this summer for A/C, cooling down after a trip down the drag strip or a sled pull, and running on a Dyno. Other than that an electric should be more than enough. I am willing to bet that the electric fan moves more air than the factory fan does at idle speed. the electric fan will probibly fall short of the air flow at 2500 RPM, but hopefully I'll be moving fast enough to get the air flowing through the grill to counter act this deficiancy.

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EAT'M UP
97 2500 Club 4X4 3. 54, Forrest Green/Driftwood, LSD 5 speed, & Psychotty Air System, TST #11, 370 HP injectors, timing at 16 deg. , 16CM2 housing, AFC spring kit, Geno's Exhaust Blanket, TST EGT gauge & 0-60 boost gauge in A Pillar, Cat-be-gone, 4" Dynomax Bullet muffler, Crome 4" turn down, Rad fan removed, AmsOil Through out, Geno's trans filter kit, AmsOil Bypass system, Lund Winter front, Leer Cab Level Shell Driftwood , 255/85R16, South Bend's Hypo Clutch*NRA/USPSA member and proud of it*

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I'm still running fanless too. No difference in coolant temps unless I block the radiator 95-100%. Then I can hold 190 degrees. If it gets too hot for my liking, I just turn on the heater blower and it drops coolant temps by 20-30 degrees.

drawson
While you are here can you answer a quick A/C question? I wanted to run my A/C today to keep the seals from cracking, have not run it in 3 months. I removed the cardboard from in front of the radiator, replaced my A/C relay and made sure the compresser clutch engauged when I turned it on. It Did.

I figured enough air would get to the Condenser at 65 mph. I drove for 40 miles. A/C is blowing warm air.

Is there a sensor or pressure swtich somewhere that senses the OE Viscous fan is missing, or not enough air is passing thru the Condensor to operate?

I'm not worried about it. #ad





[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 03-14-2001). ]

 

[Cooker]

I, unfortunately, never got around to removing the fan this winter.

I'm curious just how warm of weather you guys can run without a fan. Can you do stop and go traffic (average city driving) in 50 degree weather?

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Cooker,
I have run in 45 degree weather around town and highway. To see a higher coolant temp than 170, I still need to block the radiator about 90%. Without blocking it still won't get above 170. Fan or no fan.

This is a 12 Valve. Your engine may be different.

[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 03-14-2001). ]

 

[illflem]

Ryan,I did about an hour of 35 mph stop and go driving at about 65° fan less last week,barely made it to 190°. I was worried though,it was the first time for running fanless in that high of a temp,no problem. Then again I don't think the fan in my 2500 has ever locked up either. I know the one in my 3500 has,but only on the hottest days,big loads,big hills. There is no doubt that our cooling systems are an over-kill for most situations.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks Stinger,Warn fender flairs and running boards(work truck)
95 3500,5 speed 3:54,BD E-brake,Driftwood,Banks&Psycotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(works harder truck)

 

[drawson]

Hemi, It sound like you are low on Freon oh I mean R134a. I have had my relay out all winter also, but also have an Electric fan outside the A/C condencer that come on with the A/C compressor. I tried it just yesterday and it seemed to work fine(too cold in the cab for 65 deg outside)

Cooker, I have let my truck sit and idle for 10 minutes after towing the back hoe to the job site and the temp was down from where it was when I got there. The outside temp on the in cab gauge was reading 67 deg when I got to the job site. this site was in the middle of town with stop light every 2 blocks or so. From what i have seen so far I'll bet that it would be possible to run w/o a fan up to 75-80 deg.

Hopefully I'll have my bigger electric on inside the rad soon so that I can DYNO #ad

 

[Powder Extreme]

I have had both electric and the Horton. Several years ago I had the biggest electric fan I could buy on my '94. It was adequate unless I really started working the pickup in the summer. When it put a hole in my radiator I replaced it with the Horton, VERY NICE. There is no way any electric fan will move as much air as the Horton does, imagine the size of a 20hp electric motor, now convert that to DC voltage, you'd need a battery cable just to supply the amperage it would draw. DO NOT use your air conditioner around town without having a fan installed, the system will heat up and overpressure. My Horton has a pressure switch installed in the A/C system and the fan cycles on and off frequently around town to keep the A/C from overpressuring. Something else to think about when pulling hills and such, the more airflow going through your intercooler, the more efficient your turbo will work and the lower your intake air temp will be.

Jerry

Hemi: It sounds like you are low on refrigerant, 65mph is more than enough airflow to cool the condensor.


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2001 Quad Cab Dually, ETH, SLT Plus, Isspro Pyro & 50lb Boost, EZ Box, 275 injectors, Banks Power Pack, custom "Scotty style" airbox, amsoil dual bypass, 4" DD exhaust, Ceramic clutch.

'94 SLT 4x4 V-10, straight pipes and a K&N (can't find anything else